Last evening was another "spring kickoff" with the monthly First Friday of 2009 in downtown Spirit Lake, an event when galleries and other business' remain open until 7pm and the public stops in for some art, food, entertainment and conversation. It's always an enjoyable experience and the galleries, Art On 16th and A Piece Of Work, get to show their colors by unveiling the work of several local artists. To me it's an experience that is reminiscent of days gone by and has become a regular event when my wife and me look forward to strolling along Hill Avenue and meeting friends.
During one of my discussions a friend was talking about when he takes pictures the outcome is not usually the same as the work that he finds hanging on the gallery walls. I was reminded of a comment by Ansel Adams that I've seen in print several time and goes "you take a picture, but you make a photograph" and once again, his meaning, from years ago, becomes clearer to me during the past year. While the purchase of a light catching device is easy, and the instruction is generally simple, the results of that device can be different depending upon who is holding the device. All camera's have a lens, shutter release, and a method of capturing the scene, but the capture and production of a fine art image is more of a story than a mirror image.
The story may first begin with a concept or even with just a lucky right or left turn in a forest while looking for a subject, but from here forward the tale becomes a detailed accounting of not only concepts, intuition and learning, but the heart. The photograph becomes, or should become, less about the person behind the camera and more about the vision in front of the lens, including all the mistakes, "almosts", and "never will be" shots of the past that come together to form a piece of artistic interpretation of an idea. From published memoirs or lectures in workshops by noted photographers it becomes clear that their really great work developed from an "oh, my...." moment, into a resulting piece of inspiration with the step by step process of learned technical skills being put to use without over kill. The resulting work becomes an orchestrated score of not only the original concept, but of time of day, use of color, shutter speeds, depth of field and so on with each adding to the evolution of the final image. Despite the popular belief, the process is not much different, whether it was conceptualized in a "wet" darkroom or through the use of a computer...the tools are there for the process of "making a photograph" and their use is the craft of the art of photography.
Since I've been retired my time behind the camera has taught me several things with one of the most important being to release myself from conefines of the camera and just let the story or subject unfold, be it a wildflower on a forest floor caught by beautiful evening light or landscape saturated with dawns light, the end product should be less about my skills ( which seem minimal to me) and more about the marvelous beauty that surrounds all of us. With this comes the epilogue of peace and love that illuminates the process into fine art.
The second important lesson has been that the image that I capture today is a preparation for the next one that I take tomorrow which makes this whole photographic process a continuing, self fulfilling process which I only control by the frequency that I entertain myself. The walks in the prairie, watching the waves crashing the beach at sunset or looking for wildflowers become the research for some future idea that may or may not come to fruition, but I know more about where to look and my skills become more refined. And the pile of photographic magazines that sits beside my bed also is part of the endeavor of learning and of being prepared. The images and concepts of other photographers, and writers, inspires me to get out to do the work...which really isn't work at all...just think about the views that I see!
While my explanation may seem cumbersome, the process is as simple as understanding that 2 + 2 = 4. While in our youth the concept was abstract, but with everyday usage it is a simple fact, and such is the art of photography. Ones command of it is equal to the usage. The more time spent in the field the closer one gets to the camera becoming and extension of the imagination or a window to the soul. At this point the camera becomes the paintbrush.
It's all about the journey, but ohhhhh, my....what a destination!
Fine art is a revelation of the heart....It's as simple as that!
Thanks for stopping by. GOOOOOOOOOO BAYLOR. Hi to my kids.
Other sites of my work:
A Piece Of Work Gallery, Spirit Lake, Iowa http://www.apieceofworkinc.com/alcove_3.php
Art Of The Vine Gallery http://www.artofthevinegallery.com/
Artisans Road Trip http://www.artisansroadtrip.com/index.htm
BetterPhoto.com http://www.betterphoto.com/Premium/Default.aspx?id=251674&mp=V1
CR Gallery, Milford, Iowa
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